(Soul Food) Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Southern baked macaroni and cheese, also called soul food mac and cheese, is the ultimate in comfort food. Creamy, rich, ooey-gooey, super cheesy, with those crispy browned cheese edges…no one can resist perfectly baked mac and cheese.

The black folk mac and cheese. You know, the one with all the memes about how only specific people in the family (usually an Auntie or Grandma) are allowed to make it. A staple in soul food and southern cooking, this mac and cheese goes back generations and is saved for special occasions. Which is why it’s here today, on Juneteenth.

For those who don’t know, Juneteenth (or Empancipation Day) is a holiday celebrated by Black Americans for the official dying bell of slavery when the Civil War ended, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and the last slaves in Galveston, Texas were told they were free in 1865. A whole two years after they were legally freed, but…you know, until the Army came to physically come tell them they were free, they certainly weren’t told by their illegal traffickers and abusers.

Of course, there’s a whole lot more slavery problems that were still going on after that, but just like how America celebrates July 4th, we celebrate Juneteenth, the 19th of June, as the official day by feasting, dancing, and merriment, as our ancestors did when they were freed.

And while they probably didn’t have mac and cheese back then for their freedom feast, it’s a pillar in black cuisine and definitely one in my house. Creamy, rich, ooey-gooey, super cheesy, with those crispy browned cheese edges…no one can resist perfectly baked mac and cheese.

Why is baked macaroni and cheese so important to black culture?

For one, black people hold macaroni and cheese in high regards, and it’s the pinnacle of black culinary accolades. It’s bestowed upon only those who can be trusted with the responsibility of making mac and cheese, because you are not messing up Thanksgiving with bland, overcooked, sad mac and cheese. Our mac and cheese is just as important as any main dish at every holiday is shows up at. Which is every holiday: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, 4th of July, birthdays, marriages, births, funerals. Everything.

If you bring any type of mac and cheese recipes made from a box or in a store, you will be ragged on and not allowed to bring food again. Possibly exiled from all cookouts, depending on how bad you’ve disrespected the mac and cheese.

What makes ‘black folk’ or southern baked macaroni and cheese?

Southern baked macaroni and cheese is from scratch, period. It’s the ultimate in comfort food. There’s no roux, there’s no stove-top happenings, it’s baked macaroni and cheese. It’s amazingly simple in theory, but there are plenty of tiny tweaks that many do to make their mac unique. Seasoning salt is used sometimes, evaporated milk, the argument of ‘eggs vs no eggs’, but it’s all based around very simple and mandatory ingredients. Mind you, everyone will have a different variation, though all are pretty similar besides the number of cheeses and the addition of seasoning salt. And depending on how easily offended they are, they will argue you down to the kitchen about how their’s is superior. It becomes a topic of debate if ever brought up.

Elbow macaroni only

Honestly, I don’t think anyone will accept any other pasta shape. It holds the creamy cheese mixture well, and kids are familiar with the shape so they won’t say no to it.

At least three cheeses

You will be argued down if you think you can only use cheddar or Velveeta in your mac and cheese. Ask any black woman who is responsible for making the mac and cheese for holidays: mac and cheese is tends to be expensive because there are multiple cheeses used and they vary between families. My mother uses at least six, one including sour cream and chives cream cheese. But this is what makes mac and cheese so good, so add in all the cheese.

It’s a dump and bake recipe

Just shred your cheese, stir it with your half and half and milks and creams, season to taste (yes, taste the mixture because you’ll end up with bland mac otherwise), add your eggs, stir it all together with the macaroni, and bake in the oven. No roux, no fancy stuff, no stoves, no add ins. Not even bacon.

How to make “soul food” or southern baked macaroni and cheese

First, you need to have a lot of love and soul. Got that? Okay.

Next, cook macaroni pasta in well-salted water until just under al dente. It needs to be under cooked so that it doesn’t end up mushy and overcooked in the oven.

While your macaroni is cooking, shred your cheese.

In my recipe, there are five cheeses and each has a purpose: sharp cheddar cheese for the flavor. Colby jack as a supporting cheese for the cheddar without adding too much ‘cheddar’ flavor and is a great melting cheese. Mozzarella for that melty, gooey-cheese-stretch goodness. American cheese because it is made to melt in a perfectly creamy way.

In a large bowl, mix in the cheeses, the half and half and heavy cream, and your spices. A little mustard powder boosts the cheese flavor, salt and black pepper are a must, garlic and onion powder, and then…smoked paprika!

You can find smoked paprika in any grocery store and it’s flavor is such a great, smoky addition to the mac and cheese. You will not regret having some smoked paprika in your life.

Rub down a 8×11 or 9×13 baking dish (I used an 8X11 for these photos, but I’ve used 9×13 plenty of times with no problems) with butter and dump in the macaroni and cheese-milk mixture and mix it up well. Cover it in the rest of the cheddar and colby jack, then bake for 40 minutes. No, there are no bread crumbs.

I honestly can tell you this is the best macaroni and cheese you will ever make in your life. Which is exactly why it’s such a cultural staple.

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Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Yield: 12-16 servings

Prep Time: 8 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 43 minutes

Southern baked macaroni and cheese, also called soul food mac and cheese, is the ultimate in comfort food. My recipe has five cheeses, is creamy, rich and comforting, and stays true to the cultural classic.

Ingredients

16 oz (500 g) elbow macaroni, uncooked

8 oz (225 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

8 oz (225 g) colby jack cheese, shredded

8 oz (225 g) part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded

8 oz (225 g) American cheese, cubed

4 oz (125 g) cream cheese, cubed

1 cup (250 ml) half and half

1 cup (250 ml) heavy cream

Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

1/2 tsp (4g) Smoked paprika (optional)

1-2 tsp (3g) garlic powder

1 tsp (3g) onion powder

1/4 tsp (0.5g) mustard powder

2 large eggs

Instructions

Fill a large pot half way with water, add in a large pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Add in elbow macaroni and cook until just under al dente, according to package directions. Do not fully cook or overcook the pasta, it'll finish in the oven. Once done, drain the pasta.

While pasta boils, use a wooden spoon to mix half and half, heavy cream, half of cheddar cheese, half of colby jack cheese, and all of the mozzarella cheese, american cheese, and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl.

Stir in spices, tasting the mixture to ensure there is good flavor. Do not add too much salt, since cheese is pretty salty and will melt down. Once satisfied with the seasoning, mix eggs in well with a wooden spoon.

Add drained macaroni pasta and the milk-cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, stirring to make sure the cheese is well distributed throughout the macaroni.

Top evenly with the rest of the cheddar cheese and colby jack cheese. Sprinkle with a little more smoked paprika.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the macaroni and cheese is bubbly and the cheese is nicely browned. Do not over-bake.

Let cool for about 10 minutes or until cool enough to serve. Then serve hot.

Keep wrapped in the fridge for up to 4 days.

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Eden Westbrook is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind Sweet Tea and Thyme. A classically trained chef, Eden has inspired home cooks into the kitchen with cultural comfort foods, easy family-friendly eats and sweets, and glorious spreads for date night and entertaining since 2015.

Reader Interactions

Comments

I loved reading the whole write up for you Mac n Cheese recipe! Thank you for the history behind Juneteenth. My church celebrate Juneteenth every year but it never occurred to me we were celebrating emancipation. Anyway, I am not in charge of the Mac and cheese at Thanksgiving and every other holiday but I am in charge of the potato salad, candied yams (my grandmother’s recipe), the deviled eggs and even the dressing. Now I will set my sights on the Mac n cheese with this recipe. Thank you for sharing!

Yes, yes, yes and yes, loved this post and especially the recipe. Mine is very similar except I’ve never done the cream cheese and I always use evaporated milk. Gonna have to give this a try. I always make the Mac n cheese for family gatherings so we’ll see if they notice the difference.

I’m so glad you shared this very special recipe with us! I used to have a co-worker who brought her soul-food mac and cheese to every potluck, and everyone absolutely loved it. I asked for the recipe and was given very vague information…needless to say, it wasn’t the same! I can’t wait to try yours.

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Meet Eden

Hello, there! I'm Eden. I'm a food photographer, a mom and wife, and a classically trained chef. I love whipping up cultural comfort foods and easy seasonal dishes you can use for weeknight dinners, weekend brunches, date nights, and entertaining.